Driven by the zeal to preserve the age-old traditions, Lidi Kro-u, a cultural society based in Kohima village has been organising cultural demonstrations to visiting guests including international and domestic tourists for the past 4 days as part of the ongoing Hornbill Festival, 2021.
Functioning from a makeshift simulated traditional home at melody hill, Kohima village, the society, comprising mostly of mothers and assisted by some youths, have been showcasing traditional practices intrinsic to the Angami Nagas.
Some of their demonstrations include folksongs of different forms, traditional headgear weaving, threshing and winnowing or rice grains, folksong narration, choreography and traditional drinks and food items.
They introduce visitors to the rare artefacts, kitchen wares, weaving. Lidi Kro-u had hosted some State guests including the diplomats from Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Brunei who visited the State during the recently concluded International Tourism Mart, the precursor to the ongoing Hornbill Festival.
Apart from the demonstrations, the society had been embarked on a mission to train the younger folks on the traits and practices which had been followed by the forefathers.
In that regard, members along with hired trainers had conducted camps for teenagers and youths from in an around Kohima village.
Interacting with Nagaland Post, president of the society, Neisakuonuo Solo said they had come up with the idea to teach the younger folks after noticing many of them had no knowledge about any of it traditional practices.
She observed that with the change in lifestyle and profession, many old practices had been discontinued which was one reason why they felt it necessary to let the kids relearn it.
She further pointed out that if such trainings and practices were not imparted to the younger generation, then many of the social and life skills would be forgotten.
She informed that renowned Tenyidie professor, D Kuolie named the society as Lidi Kro-u which can be loosely translated as “Massive Song”
It may be mentioned here that in its effort to preserve the culture, it has also made a documentary video titled, “Thejanuo the musical” based on the book, “Nuokhrienuo kelhou rüli” written by Dr. Neiphrezonuo Mepfhü.